Gameforge brings in the experts for their Star Trek game

Star Trek online hasn't exactly been the runaway success we were all hoping for, but Gameforge will have a casual-friendly alternative soon. These guys aren't messing around--they're enlisting the aid of Michael and Denise Okuda, a husband-wife team who have designed and chronicled the Trek universe since the days of The Next Generation. With these experts on board, Gameforge's browser and Facebook-based Star Trek game will be nothing if not authentic.

I'm particularly happy that Gameforge's license covers the six original TV shows (including the animated series!) and the first ten feature films, but not JJ Abrams' reboot. Several fellow GN staffers disagree with me, but I wasn't too happy with the reboot--I didn't think it was bad, per se, just rather bland, generic and well, boring. It also closed the doors on a very rich continuity that is a veritable breeding ground for big games. I'm glad that Gameforge will not only be dipping into the massive backlog of Trek lore, but also that they'll have the definitive authorities of Denise and Michael Okuda guiding them along the way.

Denise and Michael Okuda Lend their Vast Knowledge of All Things Star Trek as Consultants for the Upcoming Browser and Facebook Games

Karlsruhe, Germany, August 10, 2010 – Germany-based online games publisher Gameforge has beamed renowned Star Trek experts Denise and Michael Okuda aboard as contributors/consultants for the publisher’s in-development Star Trek® casual browser and Facebook games based on the classic series. The Okudas have more than 20 years of experience with the popular science-fiction franchise and collaborate with Gameforge by providing their expertise regarding visual elements and technical data. They will also design logos for the games and assure consistency with Star Trek timelines and canon.

Michael and Denise Okuda have been professionally involved with the Star Trek franchise since the 1980s; Michael served as a graphic designer and technical consultant starting with 1987’s Star Trek: The Next Generation® to Star Trek: Enterprise™ and several movies. Denise has also been deeply entrenched in the popular series for many years. She was a video and computer playback supervisor on numerous Star Trek television shows as well as several of the accompanying movies. Together, Michael and Denise authored The Star Trek Encyclopedia, considered by many to be the foremost authority on Star Trek lore and technology.

“The most exciting time in any Star Trek project is at the very beginning, when the concepts and designs are developed,” said Michael Okuda. “We are having a great time working with the innovative team at Gameforge on these new chapters in the Star Trek saga.”

“Gameforge is working hard to capture the authentic look-and-feel of the Star Trek universe and they understand the sense of fun that is so important to Star Trek’s core,” added Denise Okuda. “They are dedicated to interweaving the joy of exploration, of discovery, of going boldly, where no one has gone before into their games.”

“We knew first off that in order to make great Star Trek games that we had to enlist some of the foremost Star Trek authorities. Denise and Michael are a tremendous asset to us in making these casual games,” said Ralf Adam, VP of Publishing at Gameforge. “Having such great Star Trek icons as contributors to our games will help us in our goal of creating a Star Trek experience that fans and gamers can be proud of.”

The Star Trek universe has entertained millions around the world for decades and boasts one of the most loyal and dedicated fan bases in popular culture. As Gameforge works to bring the storied classic franchise to life as a free-to-play casual browser game for players around the globe, Denise and Michael Okuda will be working with Gameforge to ensure a fun and engaging Star Trek experience.

The Web-based casual browser and Facebook Star Trek games by Gameforge are scheduled for release in 2011.

About Gameforge

Gameforge is the largest independent global provider of online games. Located in Karlsruhe, Germany, Gameforge offers 20 games in more than 50 languages and more than 100 million registered users worldwide. The Gameforge portfolio includes Metin2, the largest massively multiplayer online game in Europe and popular games such as OGame, Ikariam, Gates of Andaron, or Gladiatus. The Gameforge portal MMOGAME.COM integrates all Gameforge games in a comprehensive community network. Gameforge has won numerous awards, including “Technology Pioneer 2009” from the World Economic Forum and “Entrepreneur of the Year 2008.” Ikariam won the German Computer Game Award 2009 in the “Best Browser Game” category. In 2010, Gameforge was awarded ”TOP JOB Employer of the Year” and titled one of the best employers of 2010 by the Great Place to Work® Institute Germany.